Mop



Patented May 26, 1936 l Claim.

This invention relates to mops suitable for cleaning milk bottles, washing dishes, dusting furniture and for various other purposes which readily suggest themselves.

The novelty of my invention resides primarily in the structure embodied in the wire handle portion of the device.

The twine is laid between two wire strands and the latter twisted, securing the twine in a spiral formation therebetween.

A double fold is then made in the twine-loaded twist, the extreme end of the wires being bent inwardly so that no sharp or pointed ends will protrude from the mop head.

Subsequently the twisted handle portion is bent upon itself to provide as it were, a back bone structure adapted to greatly stiften and strengthen it when manual pressure is applied to the mop when in service.

The character of the invention may best be understood by reference to the description found in the following specification when taken in connection with the accompanying drawing disclosing an embodiment which, at the present time I consider preferable to other possible forms in which the invention might be carried out.

In the drawing.-

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of my mop.

Fig. 2 shows the wire strands before being twisted.

Fig. 2a shows the same as Fig. 2 after the twisting operation;

Fig. 3 is a section on line- 3 3, Fig. 1;

Fig. 3a. shows the result of the first bending operation in making the mop frame of the twisted wires.

Fig. 4 shows in plan view a skeleton mop frame, the twine not being shown,.and

Fig. 5 is a section showing the disposition of the twisted wires after being bent into final form, the section being taken on line 5 5, Fig. 4.

Similar reference characters are employed to identify like parts in all views of the drawing.

Referring to the drawing, I is the looped wire handle portion of my mop, extending from which is a twisted wire portion 2, made of wires W.

In Fig. 2, the mop material, preferably cotton twine T, is shown inserted for a certain distance from their ends between the two straight strands of wire preparatory to twisting them into the form depicted in Fig. 2a.

After this operation the twine-equipped twisted wires are bent to form what I term the mop frame, the result of the rst bending operation for this being shown in Fig. 3a and the nal one in Fig. 4.

To make the drawing less confusing the twine is omitted in these two views.

It will be observed, by reference to Fig. 5, that the mop frame portions, A, B, and C are disposed respectively, at the points of intersection of the sides of an isosceles-triangle, the apex of which is at A.

It is evident that as A is centrally disposed over the portions B and C, a transverse equalization of the pressure applied to the handle is effective on the surface being operated on by the mop.

It is also obvious that by providing a comparatively broad base, as from B to C, the mop is more or less automatically stabilized, and less rigid grip of the handle is required when moving the mop in a direction transversely of the mop frame.

Moreover the apex part A, has an important function to exercise in that it largely equalizes the pressure of the mop on a surface, longitudinally of the mop frame.

While the part A is integral with the other portions of the mop frame, joining them at x, on the top of the mop head H, there is a certain amount of flexibility between the parts.

Thus when a strong pressure is brought to bear on the handle, its effect is first felt on the farthest end of the mop head, but upon increasing this pressure the part A contacts strongly on the top of the mop head, at y, bringing both forward and rearward ends of the mop under a substantially equal contact pressure, causing the mop to wear uniformly over its entire surface.

As illustrated in Figs. 1 and 3, the mop head is constricted by an elastic band R. placed slightly below the parts B and C of the mop frame.

It is not 4absolutely essential to employ the band, but in certain instances it is desirable to d'0 so, as it serves to compact the twine and makes a firmer and stiffer base portion O.

A feature which increases the effectiveness of my mop particularly when used to clean the inside of a bottle is found in the shape of the mophead, adjacent the portion marked 11:.

At this point the shape is substantially square. and with the twine-covered end of the handle portion A capable of closely contacting the side of the bottle as the mop is pushed downwardly thereinto, it is possible to reach and clean what is usually the most inaccessible portion of its interior, namely, the juncture of its base with its vertical wall.

The shape of the mop as drawn in Fig. 1 is not to be understood as being constantly maintained, as it assumes this shape only when flattened against `a plain surface.

In dish or bottle Washing the twine or threads arrange themselves in all manner of shapes and positions, from that as shown in full lines to that in dot ,and dash lines, Fig. 3.

My mop is hygienic in character, as it can easily be cleaned and sterilized. lIhe material of which it is made is inconsequential provided it fullls the object for which it is to be used.

Preferably, and for most uses, I employ cotton twine for the mop proper, and plated steel, brass or other non-rusting material for the metal handle and mop frame. Y

A wooden handle might be substituted for the metal loop although I prefer the latter.

The device is designed so that it can be cheaply made, it has proven a very e'ective mop in service, and with respect to the construction of the mop frame it is believed to be novel.

What I claim is:

A device of the class described, comprising a mop frame, embodying a rectangular shaped base composed of two metal wires twisted, closely arranged strands of fabric interposed between said metal wire strands, forming a mop-head, an upright portion of the twisted wire structure rising from the said base and bent rearwardly over the mop-head, centrally of the base member and eX- tending rearwardly to provide a handle for said device, said handle being so disposed as to contact the rearward end of the mop-head when suiiicient pressure is brought to bear thereon.

THOMAS P. WALLACE. 

